Switching device.



` Alexander M'. Haubrich, Serial No. 226,286,

, button upon actuation of ,y to a metallic part ofthe key-plunger is caused to strike against arnet-allie escutchoon-plate ione, is the provision of means for prevention sectional vlew thereof, taken on line 3 5 ester, in the county of Monroe and State of the -accompanying drawings, forming a part 'nNrrEn srArEs JULES A. BIRsFiEL-D, oERocHEsTERfNEw YORK, AssiGNoR To sTRoM- BERG-CARLSON TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING-COMPANY, ory ROCHES- TER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OE NEw YORK.

SWiTCll-IING DEVICE.

No. 848,283. Specication of Letters Patent. Patented March 26, 1907.

Applicatidn tiled February 13, 1905. Serial No. 245,524.

To all whom, it 171,51'3'/ concern:

Be it known that I, J ULEs A. BrRsEIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at .Roch- New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Switching Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to of this speciiication. l

My invention relates to electrical switching apparatus, and articularly to operators keys employed in telephony. f y

y invention may also be'considered as an improvement over the switching device` shown and` described in the application of tiled September 28, 1904. In that application the operators ringing and listening key is combined in a compound unitary structure with party-line selective keys, actuation of any selective-key button causing release of any other selective buttons which may have been depressed.- One of the features ofthat .application is the provision ot' means for automatically causing restoration of selective the operators key to its listening position. a

Oneof the objects of my invention is to provide vadditional means whereby actuation of the selective lbuttons will return the operators listening-key to its normal position.v

In switching devices of this kind there is apt to be conslderable noise duringoperation thereof' due to the recoil of the springs and actuating-plimgers of levers, and particularly in the key shown inthe application referred upon release of the key. Another'feature of'niy invention, vtherel l of such noises, and this second feature is apl plicable in all keys employing springs actui ated by plu'ngers or levers. l My invention will bc best understood when l described with reference to the accompany- 1 ing drawings, in which-- y Figure 1 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is an elevation view thereof. Fig. 3 is a of Fig.` 2, the upper part of the springs beingv shown in section. Fig. 4 is a sectional view thereof, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. is

a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6'is a diagrammatic view showing the connection ofthe various switch-springs of the keys and the connection therewith ol' .various signaling-current sources, and Fig. 7 shows separator-plate for adjusting, the springs of switch mechanisms employed.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the various figures. l Theframeworkof' the device consistsof the combined supporting and escutche'on plate,A 1 and the lower supporting-bar` 2, connected ,by pillars 3`and 4, which may 'hv threaded, engagement with the escutch- I eon plate,` and which may be secured to the y.bar 2 bymeans of bolts 5 5. The operatorfs listening and ringing key comprises an actuatinglate 6, `pivoted at 7 in downwardlylexten ng -lugs 8, and carries a cylindrical actuating button 9 for actuating switchspring mechanism 10, having` suitable connection withthe cord-strands and with an o erators telephone set 11. The actuatingp ate 6 also carries a cylindrical actuating-- button 12 for operating ringing switch mechanism 13, suitably connected with sources of ringing-current. lThe actuatingplate 6 has stops 14 and 15 for engaging Vagainst the lower face of the plate 1 as the .operators key is rotated. The adjustment of the stop 14 is such as to prevent sul'licient rotation of the key to bring the ce'nterof the button 12 beyond the edge 13" of the actuating-springs'l, so that the key will bc thrown back .to its normal position by thel springs upon release. Stop 15, however, is adjustedv to allowsutlicient rotation of the key to carry the button -9 within the edges 14 of the actuating-springs 63, whereby the key will be locked.. after actuation between thc springs, 63. A plurality of selective buttons 16, 17, 1S, and 19 are mounted on the escutchcon-plate 1. Each button con.- sists of a stern 20, passing through a corresponding opening 21 in the esoutcheon-plate. 'Each button is also provided with aplunger or wedge 22 of insulating material, having a screw-threaded engagement with the lower i end ot the stein portion,andabove the actuating-wedge is a carn-detent 23. The actuat-l ing-wedges are adapted upon depression ofy roy,

spring mechanisms 16', 17', 18', and 19', mounted upon the supporting-frame 2.

Y The stems of the buttons are prolonged into Y maintain the buttons in a normal upper posision 37.

tion. The pillars directly below thereseutehecn-plate are provided with grooves 28 and 29, respectively, and theV biureated ends 30- and 31 of Ya latch-bar-BZ are adapted to ride in these grooves. Arihe latchbar is rovided with openings large enough to a low ready passage therethrough of t .e cam-detente 2t). A spring 35, secured' o the escu'tqheon-plate 1, engagesthe latch-bar and tends to move the latch-bar toward the left of the device, as best shown in Fig. 2,. and when in this position the right side edges of the openings 3. are disposed to the" left of the detent edges 36 ot the Vcam-detente 23. Thus upon depression of ythe selective vhuttons the detent-cams will move thelateh-har to the right and after the detent edge has passed downwardly below the latch-plate the spring will Areturn the latch-har to its position to the left, the vedge of the latch-har opening 'below 'the depressed button, however, being disposed before the detent .edge

and the depressed 'button is locked in itsfdepressed position. Upon depression of' a second button the cam-detent of this hutten will engage the latch-bar and move it to the right suiliciently tof-allow escape of the iilst/depressed button and the second button in turn will be` locked in its depressed position after lits cani-detent has vpassed below "The lateh-bar, and thus depression of one button will serve to release allthe depressed buttons. ators key is provided with an extension 37, and the locking-bar is provided with an extension 28, projecting into the path of extenlpon actuation of the operators keyr to its listening ,position the vextension 37 will engage the extension 38 to move thev `latch-harto the right to allow the escape of all selective keys which may have been locked.

' ine ot the features of my invention consists in the `disposition ofthe parts in .sui-h a manner that it' theo era-tors key is in a listening position ythe t epression of yany of the selective buttons will 'cause the restoration of the 4key to its `normal osition. is accomplished by at justfingthe length of the openings 253 in the latch-baril; so that iindepression of a button will-cause engagement ol" the corresponding cam-detent with ihe'left-lmnd edge oi the corresponding opening .'i to cause a i. movement of the latch-plate toward the left from its righthand position, into which it has been moved upon actuation of the listening-key. This -the actuating-wedges 22.

The actuating-plate of the oper-1 This result senese slight kmovement to the lleft is'suiicient 'to trip the operators key and to cause its restoration from the listening to a normal position. As the spring vmechanism 10 upon actuation of theeperators key to the listenin position is adjusted to look the key in suc position, this automatic-restoration of the key would otherwise not result upon actuation of the selective keys; but owing to the adjustment of the cam-detente and. the latch-plate openings, as above described, the listeningkey is moved from locking engagement upon actuation of the selective buttons and is returned to its'normal position.

In keys employing springs, such as shown, and plungers or levers for actuating them there is a t to he considerable noise u on release oft le keys, owing to the recoi of the springs. In the key shown there is apt to he a great amount of noise, as upon release of the selective buttons the metallic cam-detents will strike against the metallic escutcheen-plate 1. In the application of Il auh-rich referred to the inner sprl-n s of' the various switching mechanism of tie selective keys are normally 4in contact at their 'ends with This necessarily causes friction on the wedges `which must he overcome by the helical restoring-springs 27, and these v springsfmust therefore be heavier than would otherwise'henecessary It thesey springs are heavy-',howeifer, thehuttons upon release will he returned with greater force to their normal position., 'thus increasing. the noise otimpact between the escutcheon-platc and the cam-detents. To ohviute this, l.

:shorten the actuating-wedges 'to clear them from the inner springs 39, and to lmaintain the inner springs in proper a l, ]ust-ment m relation to the actuating-springs 40 and outer spr-ings 4,1 "l employ scparator-plates 42. (Shown in Fig. 7.) .These sei-larator-plates are of insulating material and consist of a body portion 43, havinga central-ripening 44,

and `from which arms 45 and 46 extend later- '.lheinner springs are provided with openings through which vthe extensions '45 und 46 may snugly pass, the inner springs resting against the shoulders 48 `of vthe separat(ir-plates, Yand these platesand innersprings servemutually f to 'hohleachother 1in position. 'lille act-unition-sprin'gs 4() are prrn'inlcd with larger openings if), through which the extensions 45 .may freel)Y pass, and the outer springs 4() rest against the ends of the extensions, the length oftheextensions 'being such that normally the outer springs aredisengagcd from the actuating-springs whichnormally engape theinner springs, Upon actuating ol' tie keys -vto depress the wedge 22 the actuationsprings are disengaged from the inner springs and move into engagement with the outer springs. The inner springs are at all'tinies maintained out of contact with the wedges by means of the separator-plates, and thus upon release of' the keys there will be no retarding. force exerted thereon, Aand consequently the helical springs 27 may be very much lighter. This of itself will materially lessen the noise upon release of the buttons. To entirely eliminate the noises upon restoration, VI provide means for preventing sufficient motion of the actuation-buttons upon release to allow the cam-detents to strikt'he escutcheon-plate. I therefore provide the lower end ofthe actuation-wed res with enlargements to form collars 50, willich engage the lower side of the inwardlyfhent ends 51 of the actuating-springs, best shown in Fig. 3. As the buttons are depressed the wedges will actuate the springs to cause the desired circuit changes, and upon release of the buttons the upward movement of the wedge is arrested by the engagement of the collar with the ends' of the actuating-springs, and the cam-detent is prevented from reaching and striking the escutcheon-plate, and thus all noise is eliminated.

In Fig. 6 I have diagraniniatically shown the electrical connection between the various switching mechanisms of the key. The outer springs 52 of the ringing-switch mechanism 13 may be permanently connected with' the actuating-springs 53 of the selective switch mechanismy 16. The inner springs 54 of the switching mechanism 16 are normally in contact with' the actuating-springs 53 thereof and may be permanently' connente-:l with theactuating-springs 55 of the switching mechanism 17. The inner springs 56 of the switch mechanism 17 are normally in contact with the actuatiiig-spring 55 thereof and may be permanently connected -with the actuatingspiiiig 57 of the switch mechanism 1S', whose inner springs 58, normally in connection with the actua-tingsprings thereof, may be. permanently connected' with the actuatingsprings 59 ofthe switch mechanism 19', Whose inner springs 6() are normally in contact with the actuating-spring 59. The outer springs 52 of the ringingfswitch mechanism 13 are normally disengaged from the actuating-springs 61 thereof, which actuating-springs are normally in engagement with the inner spring-S 62 ofthe switch mechanism. 13, and these in' ner springs permanently connect with the actuating-springs 63 of the listening-switch mechanism 1 0, the outer springs 64 of which are normally disconnected from the actuating-sp `ings and may be connected with the opeiators apparatus l1. Iflie actuatingsprings 61 ot the ringing mechanism 13 are connected with a calling-plug 65, and inner springs of the vswitch mechanism 19 may be connected with a'source 66 of an alternating ringing-current. The outer springs of the switch mechanism 164, 17', 18", and 19 are normally disconnected from their respective actuating-springs and may respectively connect with sources 67, 68, 69, and 70 of ringing-current, each of different character. It will thus be seen that the selective switch Amechanisms are normally entirely disconnectedfroin the cord-circuit and can only be connected' therewith upon actuation of the operators key to the ringing positionvto connect-the switch-springs 61 with the springs 52, and upon such connection the depression of any one of the selective keys will connect with a calling-plu`g the corresponding selects ive ringing-current independently of the other sources `of current.' As the varioussprings of the switching mechanisms may be permanently connected together, very few connections are necessary upon installation ofthe key in the operators switchboard, it" being necessary only to connect thereto the cord-circuit and the various sources of ringing-current.

` I do not wish to be limited to the exact arrangement and construction herein shown and described, as changes may readily be made'without departing from the spirit of the invention. The noise-preventive means such as I have described are equally applicable to vother keys besides the keys herein shown.

I claim as new, however, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a telephonie switching device,- the,

combination with an operators key, of a plurality of selective` keys, switch mechanism for each selective key, independent switch mechanism for said operators key, said independent switch mechanism forming means for locking tion thereof, and means upon actuation of one of said selective keys for automatically causing the restoration of said operatori-#key i 2. In a telephonie switching devicef" the combination Withan operators key, of a plurality of selective keys combined with said operators keyiin a unitary structure, switch mechanism for said selective keys, independent switch mechanism for said operators key, vsaid independent switch mechanism forming means for locking said operators key upon actuation thereof, and ,means associated with said selective keysfor automat-4 ically causing the restoration of said operator's key upon the actuation of one of said selective keys. A

3. In a telephonicswitching device, the combination with an operators key, of a plurality of selective' keys combined in a structure, means for locking any one of said keys upon actuation thereof, independent means for locking said operators key upon -actuation thereof, means upon actuation of unitary y IOS said .operators key upon' actua- Iso.

l said operators key for automatically causing restoration of actuated selective keys, andv means upon actuation of selectwe keys for automatically causlngrestoratlon of 'the operators key.

4.- In a telephonie switching device, the combination with an operators ringlng and listening key, .of selective keys associatedl with said operators key in a unitary structu're, mean's for locking said selective keys upon actuation thereof, independentl means for locking said operators key when actuated toits listening position, means upon actuation of said operators key to its listening' position for automatically causing restoration of selective keys, and means upon actuation of selective keys for automatically restoring the operators key from its listening position to its normal position.

5. In a telephonie switching device, the combination with an operators key, of a plurality of selective keys combined with. said operators key in a unitary structure, means for locking any one of said selective keys uponV actuation thereof, independent means for locking said operators key upon actuation thereof, and means upon actuation of any one of said keys for causing the restoration ofthe actuated key.

6. In a telephonie switching device, in combinationwith an operators key, of a plurality of `selective keys combined therewith in a unitary structure, switch mechanism for` each key adapted for actuation thereby, the switching mechanism of the operators key causing said key to be locked, means Aupon actuation of any one of said selective keys for locking said key in its actuated position, means upon actuation of any other selective key-'for causing restoration of the actuated key, and means upon actuation of any selective key for automatically causing the restoration of'said operatorskey.

7. In a telephonie switching device, the combination with an operators key, of a plurality of actuating-buttons associated therewith, switching mechanism for each actuati combination Wlth an operators key, of a plurality of actuating-buttons associated therewith, switching mechanism for each actuating-button and for said operators key, said operators key being locked into position by its switching mechanism upon actuation of the key, a-common locking-bar for the actuating-buttons, depression of any actu atingbuttons causing said button to be locked in its actuated positionv by said actuating-bar, connecting means between said operators key and said locking-bar actuation of said operators key cansingsaid locking-bar to release'the actuated buttons, and 'actuatiowotany button after actuation of the operators key causing said locking-bar to be actuated to retu'rn said operat-ors key to its normal position.

9. In a telephonie switching' device, the combination with an operators key, of a plurality of selective keys associated therewith in a unitary structure, switching mechanism for each selective key and for said operators key, the switch mechanism for said operators key serving to lock said key upon actuation thereof, a common lockingeb ar for said selective keys, a cam-detent for each key adapted to pass through a corresponding opening in said locking-bar upon depression of the key, means tending to,normally hold said locking-bar to one side of the structure, actuation of 'any `selective key caising the corresponding cam-detent to pass through the corresponding opening in the lockbar whereupon thc lock-har engages the cam-detent to lock the depressedkey, a connection between said opcrators key and said lockingbar actuation of said operators key causing movement` of said locking-bar to allow the ,escape of the cam-datent through the corresponding opening in the bar, and actuation of any selective keyl after actuation of the operators key carsing said selective key to be locked in its depressed position by said locking-bar and to move said bar to release the operators key.

IOO

10. Ina telephonic switching apparatus, v

the combination with an operators key, of a plurality of selective keys combined therewith in a unitary struc-ture, switching mechanism for each key adapted to be a( tuated thereby, the switch mechanism for said operators key causing said key to be locked upon actuation thereof, a locking-bar assoriatcd with said opcrators key and with said selective keys., an extension from said o crators key, 'a lug extending from said loc 'ing-bar, a cam-detent for each selective key, an opening in the locking-bar` for each cam-detent, depression of a selective key causing said locking-bar to engagethe cam-detent and prevent restoration of the actuated key, actuation of the opcrators key causing movcment/of said locking-bar to release the actuated selective key and actuation of the selective key after actuation ofthe operators key causing the corresponding cam-detent to .move the locking-bar to restore the operators key to its normal position.

11. In a telephonie switching apparatus,

IIO

the combination with a plurality of switchspri'ng groups comprising actuating-springs and inner and outer` contact-springs, of a plunger for engaging said actuating-springs, and a separator-plate for normally retaining said'outer and inner springs in proper adjustment independently of the plunger: 12 In a telephonie-switching device, thecombm ation with an operators key, of a plurality 'of selective keys, switch-contacts for said. selective keys, means for locking said operators key upon actuation thereof, means upon actuation of on'e of said selective keys for automatically causing the restoration of said operators key, a vplunger connected with each selective key for en-4 gaging said switch-contacts or limiting its upward motion to a fixeddistance when said se ective` keys are restored.V

' 14. In telephonie switching apparatus, the

combination with an actuatiiig-button of a stem, a wedge-shaped plunger secured to said stem, switching mechanism disposed below said plunger, actuating-springs for said switching mechanism engaging said plunger,

inner ,contact-springs normally engaged by switch means for said said switch means formmg4 I said actuating-springs, cuter springs adapted to be engaged by said actuated springs upon depressionof the pliuiger, and a separatorplate foi' adjusting the positions of said l Springsindependently of the plunger, the 1nner springs resting against shoulders of said separator-plate, and the outer springs resting against the ends of extensions from said separator-plate. A

' 15. In telephonie switching apparat-us, the combination with an actuating-button, of a stem extending therefrom, a wedge-shaped plunger 'secured to said stein, switching mechanism disposed below said plunger', actuating-springs for said switching mechanism engaging said plunger, yinner contact-springs for said switch mechanism noi'inallyin engagement with-said actuating-springs, outer contact-springs for said switch mechanism normally disengaged from said actuatingspiings, depression of said plunger causing said'actuating-springs to become disengaged from said inner springs and to be engaged with the outer springs, a spring surrounding said stein below said said plunger to its normal position upon de- .pression thereof, a separator-plate of insuf a lting.material having a central openingl for r ing .against the shoulders of said separatori plate and the' outer contact-springs resting against the end of extensions from said separator-plate, said-inner springs being thereby 'entire y disconnected from said plunger.

In witness whereof I hereuntosubscribe my name this 9th day of February, A.' D.

- JULES A. BIRSFIELD. AWitnesses: i

CHARLES J.'SCHMIDT, LEONARD W. NOVANDER.

receiging said spring, the linner springs restplunger for returninglf 

